Lula says the population cannot ‘settle for little’ and needs to demand the government

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, progressive-globalist) assured on Monday (Feb. 13) that the people support the federal government and the authorities in implementing public policies.

During a meeting with collectors of recyclable material at the Planalto Palace, Lula spoke about the importance of social participation.

“You cannot be satisfied with the few things that we offer. You have to get more organized,” the president began.

For Lula da Silva, society is an indispensable part of public decision-making.

“We have four years for you to demand because you know not all governments will let you into the Palácio do Planalto. And this entrance means, once and for all, that the Brazilian people are participating in the reconstruction of this country,” said Lula.

Former president Dilma Rousseff, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), and ministers Fernando Haddad (Finance), Marina Silva (Environment), Jader Filho (Cities), Silvio Almeida (Human Rights and Citizenship), Wellington Dias (Social Development), and Márcio Macêdo (General Secretary of the Presidency) also attended the ceremony.

Also present were the Union’s general attorney, Jorge Messias, and the president of Petrobras, Jean-Paul Prates.

Responsible for the edition of the two signed decrees, General Secretary of the Presidency Macêdo (a biologist) said that adopting responsible programs is essential to a greener and fairer future.

“Under the new recycling decree, reverse logistics allow the return of products and packages discarded by the consumer to the production cycle, preserving natural resources and avoiding the improper disposal that causes soil and water pollution.”

“It also allows for the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while generating jobs and income sustainably and dignifiedly.”

“The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, reinforced the importance of the workers.”

“The ‘catadores’ do the most important and difficult part of waste management, collecting disposable materials in the streets, at selective collection points, and even in very painful and unacceptable circumstances, as is the case of the dumps, which we need to put a definitive stop to.”

With information from Jovem Pan